{Milk glass}

I headed out last Saturday morning with  my little chickadee and my mom to hit a few garage sales! And tho it was cold and rainy I managed to find one sale that definitely did not disappoint.

We pulled up and I could just feel it.....this was my type of stuff. Call me old fashioned or what have you, but I love digging through some of "granny's" stuff! If you know what I mean. And dig away I did, through all of the needlepoint and doily cuteness! ( yes those things are precious to me and are a lost art!) I found some precious pieces to use in the girls' rooms! Along with an adorable milk glass lamp!


When I went up to the front to pay for my precious bounty....I began talking to the little lady! I had a set of six milk glass cups that I was going to buy and she began asking me if I was a dealer. Come to find out  this lady and her husband were dealers, and she told me of all their travels and where they would go to find "stuff" .....yada yada yada! I began to tell her that I had hopes and dreams of one day being a "junker" myself and that I am constantly just passing stuff up that would be great stuff to sale, but that I can't possible buy everything that I see because I don't have the room! I explained that I didn't feel this was the right season of life to pursue a career as a "professional junker" mainly because of my young-ens!


This sweet gem of a lady looked at me and said "there is something I want you to have to go along with your cups! "

She got up went in to her kitchen, and came back out with something that made my heart sing! A beautiful milk glass pitcher that went with my cups! She had pulled this out of her kitchen cabinets to give to me. She told me that it belonged to her grandmother, and she just never could part with it, but she insisted that I have it. I was stunned. I mean when someone tells you that something belonged to their grandmother and insists that you have it.....it pretty well leaves you speechless! I insisted on NOT taking it because ....well it was here grandmothers for pete's sake! ........But she wrapped it up and placed it in my box with the rest of my stuff.


The sweet lady encouraged me to chase my dream, and that the right season will come a long for me to pursue it. I have always felt that in my heart, but it was just sweet coming from this sweet little stranger.

I dream of the life of a professional junker! I am a frequent visitor at MANY estate sales and auctions and such. My mom and I just kind of laugh because we are at these sales with the same people week in and week out that have shops and such of their own. And here we are just doing it for the thrill of what we can find!

I know that one day if it is meant to be then my dream will naturally just flourish into something beautiful that fits right into our family life. But until then..... I think I will just wait!

But when sweet Granny gives you something that she insist on you having......just humble yourself and take it! I am thankful for these kind of people that I cross at these sales I go to, because it is just constant reassurance to me that this passion of mine will someday come to life in the right season!

 

We've been {painting}

....painting by numbers that is! I recently re-discovered the beauty of paint by number pictures, not to mention the relaxation in brings to this momma during her "down time!" Ha, but really what is down time when the duties of running a home are ongoing and never ending. There is always a load of laundry to fold, a dishwasher to unload and floor that needs mopped, etc! BUT putting  all of the chores aside, I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted/needed something to do that would bring me relaxation and satisfaction.

I have always been drawn to the beauty of paint by number pictures on my treasure hunts at various garage sales and thrift stores. It crossed my mind the other day that painting by numbers could very well bring me the relaxation and satisfaction that I was seeking. I went to good ol' Hobby Lobby and who knew ....they have paint by number kits! I also purchased Ava a children's paint by number so  she could work right alongside momma.

I was very impressed when Ava sat for a very long time concentrating on her little piece of art, making sure she had ever inch of white space filled in with the appropriate color. I am all about finding activities for kiddos that help develop a good attention span! I would HIGHLY recommend this activity for kiddos! I had very low expectations of her completing her painting....but once again she surprised me! ( she has a way of doing this! )

I never want to forget these precious little hands, and how they gripped that paintbrush so tight making sure she didn't mess up.


I will say on the adult paint by number....you will open it up and think "oh my goodness!" I need a magnifying glass to see all of these millions of tiny little numbers! But once you get going, and focus on a little section at a time it's easy peasy!  

This is what I have completed so far! Let me just start by saying I am by no means any type pf artist! That is what is great about paint by numbers. As long as you can follow directions, you can paint a beautiful piece of art. I impressed myself. This is coming from a momma  who draws a dog for her kiddo only for her to ask "what is that?"

I knew whatever I painted, I wanted to incorporate into Ava's new big girl room. ( She is switching rooms, so she can give her room to her baby sister!) When I saw this floral print at HL, I knew it would fit perfectly with the "vintage" girl room I had in mind for her. I am all about finding the sentiment in small things, and I am hopeful that this is something that Ava will treasure.

.......on another note! As a true thrift-er at heart, this is by far one of my favorite times of year. Spring time is when I normally find my best treasures of the year, thanks to the many garage sales, flea markets and antique festivals.

My sister and I ventured out to the quaint little town of Round Top, for a day of city wide garage sales. And they did not disappoint! Is it just me, or is everything that happens in Round Top just the absolute best or what!!! It is such a GEM of a town.

Here is part of my "vintage" bounty for Ava's room! I can't wait till the board and batten, and painting are done in her room, so I can move on with the decorating part. ( I think Ava is a girl after her momma's own heart, because I think she is as excited as me about this!) She loved looking at all of the vintage pretties that I brought home for her new room.

Happy almost Spring to you! ......now go buy you a paint by number, you know you want to! Really I challenge you to find the inner artist in you!

vALenTiNe'S

This year I decided to keep Ava's Valentines for her class more on the "simple" side! Don't get me wrong, I love sitting down and crafting something cute, and perhaps over the top, but this year for the sake of time, we went the simple route! And she is still pleased as punch at the end result. I loved the Valentine's we made last year, but simplicity was my goal this year! And simple it was we had these whipped out in about 5 min for the whole class.

I found some very cute store bought ( shame on me!) Crayola themed Valentines and taped them to a box of Crayons. What kiddo can't use a new box of unbroken and sharp crayons! I didn't want to go  the candy route this year because, let's face it the amount of candy they come home with is insane, and with Ava's sensitivity to red dye there is really not a lot of Valentine candy she can eat.So crayon's it was!

As for me and the hubby's Valentine's, we have also decided low key is our motto. I actually am not a sucker for the marketing hype that Valentine's Day has become in the secular world, HOWEVER I do love to celebrate those that I love and most of all my Savior's love for me on Valentine's Day. David and I picked out a "Labor of  Love" project to do together this year for Valentine's Day. ( thanks to Pinterest I had a lot of help picking out a project) ;) ........that will be revealed at a later date. I am super excited because it is something I have been wanting to make for a LONG time!

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with lots of  love!


But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Psalm 33:18

{It's A........}

Friday we had a fun gender reveal session to reveal the gender of the next baby Aldape!!

We met our talented photographer ( my sis!) at the local carnival to get some fun pics of the BIG reveal! Ava got the privilege of opening the top secret envelope and being the first to know the big secret.

Ava broke the news to us using pink OR blue cotton candy!! She was absolutely precious, and such a big girl. And she is pretty smitten that she will have a little sister to share life with!

I love all of these fun and special pictures we captured to celebrate this sweet baby girl! (Thanks sis) AND we are beyond excited to welcome a new little pink bundle of joy into our family.

 

This picture perfectly captures how big sis feels about having a little sister! 

{P} is For:

The other day Ava and I took advantage of this BEAUTIFUL weather we have been having lately and decided to explore the Letter P on the Porch!!! .....We had an Ava and mommy Porch Party.

We learned that Porches are great for:

Play-Doh.( sorry this is blurry)

Tea Parties with our Pets

Eating Popsicles in our polka dot pajamas! Ava insisted she go put these on!

And eating Pretzels!

Our Porch Party was conveniently ended by listening to the Pitter patter of the rain, and playing in a few rain puddles!

I love these  sweet days with my sweet little girl!

{Here's to blogging again}

Whew! I never knew that a break from blogging could give me such a feeling of freedom! B U T,  I think I am going to get right back into the saddle and start blogging again. I kind of reached my "wits end" with blogging in general for a while. And mainly. I think it was just a heart issue of mine that I needed to sort out.

I have had some conversations with my  much wiser than me older sister, about this whole "mommy blogging" trend, and she so beautifully summed it up {HERE}

A few quotes that touched me the most:

"Frankly, I just didn't want to be a part of fighting this battle in my own heart of needing an audience outside of my home or be a part of "feeding" into that for someone else."

"I think the thing to embrace here is for those of us who choose to be a part of blogging is to extend grace towards one another AND to ourselves. We shouldn't read blogs and leave with the feelings of discontentment or that we're lame losers because we don't do (fill in the blank) in our homes, with our families, or in our kitchens. We must know that we are only seeing a glimpse of someones life and what they want you to know. Not the entire story. Playing games of comparison with other women who you really don't know entirely and accurately is harmful and a waste of our time."


So.....with that being said, I am jumping back into this blogging thang' with a new perspective and with a lot more grace!

Tho my life feels really lame and boring some days, to say the least,  I have realized that there IS lots of life  being lived in my home, and what a great way to journal these precious moments.

I love going back and looking at past post, and reminiscing about a certain picture, a funny story or a special craft Ava and I sat down and did together.  It is one more way for me to embrace this life that is being lived in our home.........and come July we will really have some more life to embrace, with the arrival of another bundle of joy! ( i am sure there will be many post to follow about this little bundle!)

So here's to blogging in 2012! May this blog be a reflection of our life, that is full of perfect imperfections! A blog with no obligations, and a blog that extends grace towards myself and fellow bloggers!

{Sweetness}

I spent today enjoying a few sweet things in life. I always try to keep our Sundays low key so we can rest up ,and be ready for another busy week.

I have waited for the day where Ava has that one thing that she is somewhat attached to. Call me crazy but I seem to think it is cute when kids have a special "lovie." Ava has finally found her beloved "lovie." Meet lab dog. Yes, I know such a creative name, but that is what she insists on calling it. This was her today after her nap getting some last minute cuddles in with Lab dog.

This week I decided to give Ava something special that I have been holding on to for her. This was my Tinkerbell snow globe that I received one year for Christmas. My mom was so good at keeping things that we might one day want to pass down to our children. Though this is no heirloom piece, I knew Ava would love it. And since it belonged to me as a little girl I knew it would be special to her. Her reaction was no let down...............she was thrilled!

This was her expression after I gave it to her! There was a squeal of excitement that went along with this priceless face. I love that my sweet little girl is so easy to please. She has sat in her floor all day listening  to it play "You can Fly."

One another sweet note......I made some of our favorite banana bread. This is pretty much a staple in our house. I try not to cook too many sweets, but this is one that we enjoy frequently. It is requested quite often at David's fire station as well. I thought I would share the recipe. It is by far the best banana bread ever!

 1/2 cut coconut oil 
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4  cup buttermilk
1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup of chopped nuts 


Heat oven to 375. Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together. Add buttermilk. Combine flour, baking soda, vanilla and salt in a separate bowl. Add to creamed mixture, mix until combined, then add mashed bananas. Fold in nuts. Pour into one large greased loaf pan or two small loaf pans. ( whichever you prefer.) Bake 45 min. Cool and turn out. 

*If you choose to use the large pan cooking time should be increased a bit!!! 


Enjoy!

I hope you are enjoying some sweetness in your life.